16 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1181 views
Minister Louise Upston highlights that more New Zealanders moved from benefits into work over the year to March 2026, despite challenging economic conditions, with 5,580 more people exiting benefits compared to the previous year. The number of people receiving Jobseeker Support and working-age main benefits decreased significantly, reflecting the impact of the Government’s welfare reset and initiatives like the Traffic Light System and Kōrero Mahi seminars. These measures aim to make jobseekers more proactive and work-ready, providing practical support to help them secure sustainable employment.
25 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1224 views
The Re-Energise 26 report highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts to build New Zealand’s energy workforce to meet growing sector demands and avoid missed opportunities. Key challenges include workforce uncertainty, training pipeline issues, and critical role shortages, while opportunities lie in unified talent development and clearer career pathways. The government, industry, and educators must collaborate to strengthen skills, improve job connections, and support regions facing industry decline to ensure a sustainable energy sector future.
19 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1341 views
New Zealand will release 1.577 million barrels of crude oil purchase options, known as oil tickets, to support the International Energy Agency’s collective response to oil supply disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure. This contribution, part of a larger IEA release of 400 million barrels, aims to ease global refinery pressure and stabilize markets without affecting New Zealand’s domestic fuel security. The released tickets pertain to crude oil and fuels incompatible with New Zealand’s system, meaning no physical oil supply will be directly released.
18 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1132 views
The Ara Jobs and Skills Hub, supported by the Ministry of Social Development for 10 years, has helped over 1,440 people into jobs and provided training to thousands within the Auckland Airport precinct. This partnership coordinates workforce planning, recruitment, and training for 800 businesses across various sectors, addressing significant workforce demands. Minister Louise Upston emphasizes the importance of this collaboration in supporting job seekers and achieving the government’s goal of reducing Jobseeker Support recipients by 50,000 by 2030.
18 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1288 views
New Zealand currently maintains healthy fuel stocks, with about 49 days of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel supply available, including fuel in storage and shipments en route. The government is enhancing fuel data reporting and working closely with industry to monitor supply risks, ensuring readiness amid global uncertainties like the Strait of Hormuz closure. Authorities emphasize there is no need for fuel restrictions at this time, assuring the public that any changes will be communicated promptly with mitigation plans in place.
12 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1263 views
The Employment Leave Bill, recently passed its first reading in Parliament, aims to replace the complex Holidays Act 2003 with a simpler framework that reduces errors and provides clarity for businesses and workers. It introduces hours-based accrual, pro-rata sick leave, and improved entitlements such as immediate access to leave and full pay after parental leave, addressing compliance challenges and worker benefits. Minister Brooke van Velden emphasized extensive consultation and encouraged public feedback to ensure the legislation is effective and sustainable long-term.
12 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1285 views
Education Minister Erica Stanford supports Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche's decision allowing school boards to offer new pay agreements to around 10,000 primary teachers not bound by the NZEI Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement, enabling pay increases of up to 4.7% within 12 months. The new Individual Employment Agreements (IEAs) include cumulative pay rises, step increases, and a 16.7% increase in management unit values, resulting in salaries reaching $107,886 annually for top-scale teachers by 2027. Meanwhile, negotiations with the NZEI continue, and Budget 2025 covers teaching council certification costs until 2028, reducing expenses for teachers.
06 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1256 views
The Government has passed legislation to clarify the impact of ACC payments on welfare entitlements, addressing an unfair discrepancy between those receiving weekly ACC payments and those receiving lump sum payments while their ACC claims are considered. The Social Security Amendment Act ensures equal treatment for all ACC recipients, correcting a court-interpreted anomaly that previously favored one group over another. This change aims to create a fair and equitable process, with transitional provisions for individuals seeking review before the Bill's introduction.
05 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1430 views
New Zealand has approved its second private Building Consent Authority (BCA), Farsight NZ Limited Partnership, to increase competition and capacity in the building consent system, aiming to reduce paperwork and speed up approvals. Farsight will manage key building control tasks for Summerset, a major residential builder, which will help alleviate pressure on council BCAs and improve consistency in applying the Building Code. All BCAs, including private ones, must meet strict accreditation and legal requirements to ensure strong consumer protections and efficient service delivery.
05 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1234 views
Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston announced the launch of ChamberWorks, a partnership between the Ministry of Social Development and New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, aimed at helping businesses with recruitment and increasing employment. The initiative addresses employers' recruitment challenges by aligning workforce needs with job seekers and leveraging MSD's extensive talent pipeline and training resources. ChamberWorks will operate nationally across 23 chambers, collaborating on workforce plans and opportunities to support businesses and get more Kiwis into work.
03 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1296 views
An evaluation of New Zealand's traffic light system, introduced in August 2024, shows that 90% of MSD clients find it helpful for understanding their job search obligations, with nearly 99% fulfilling these responsibilities and a 10.6% decrease in sanctions. The system aims to reset welfare expectations, incentivize employment over dependency, and is supported by increased frontline services, job coaching, and incentives like a $1000 bonus for young people securing and maintaining work. The government remains committed to reducing Jobseeker Support recipients by 50,000 by 2030 through a fair, firm, and simple welfare approach that helps jobseekers be proactive and seize employment opportunities.
25 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1327 views
The new Domestic Visitor Survey, conducted in late 2025, reveals that three in five New Zealanders took overnight trips and nearly half took day trips in the previous six months, with main motivations being visiting family and relaxation. Domestic tourism accounts for about 60% of New Zealand's tourism expenditure, making these insights crucial for industry planning and responding to travel trends, especially as international visitor numbers recover post-COVID. The survey highlights high trip satisfaction, common planning methods, and barriers like cost and weather, with further data releases planned to support ongoing tourism development.
17 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1335 views
The Government is introducing the Social Security (Accident Compensation and Calculation of Weekly Income) Amendment Bill to clarify how ACC payments affect welfare entitlements and ensure fair treatment between different recipient groups. The bill aims to align the law with longstanding policy by authorizing MSD to retrospectively adjust benefits when backdated ACC payments reduce welfare to zero and to prevent inequities where some recipients receive dual income support for the same need. This legislation responds to court rulings and will not apply retrospectively to cases filed before the bill’s introduction, promoting fairness and certainty in the welfare system.
17 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1243 views
The Employment Relations Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, introducing reforms to enhance business confidence and create more job opportunities by clarifying contractor vs employee status and setting a $200,000 income threshold for unjustified dismissal claims. The Bill removes the 30-day rule to allow workers and employers to negotiate agreements from day one and ensures accountability for serious misconduct without rewarding employees financially. These changes aim to rebalance employment relations, providing more choice for businesses and workers, with most provisions taking effect immediately after Royal assent.
11 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1301 views
New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has expanded recognition of thousands of Australian WaterMark-certified plumbing and drainage products, simplifying their use by Kiwi tradies and homeowners. This change, enabled by the Overseas Building Products Amendment Bill, reduces red tape by allowing Building Consent Authorities to accept these products as compliant without individual assessments, improving supply chain resilience and lowering costs. MBIE plans to continue reviewing overseas products, enhancing access to essential building materials like plasterboard, cladding, windows, and doors to support housing affordability and construction efficiency.